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The bottom line on cabins, especially with shorter cruises, is that you’re probably not going to see much of it during your cruise. |
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And when you do, you’ll either be changing clothes or going to sleep. Consequently, the main value of your cabin is that it provides a convenient, comfortable space for you to sleep, store your clothes and take a shower. |
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Make no mistake, it’s a nice touch to wake up to the sight of the bright blue Caribbean Ocean outside your window. And being able to step out on your own balcony any time of the day or night is a major bonus. If you are taking a longer cruise, say 7 days or more, we definitely recommend considering these options. But for the shorter journeys, it really doesn’t take much away from your cruise experience to be in an inside cabin. |
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There are basically four options for cabins; inside, ocean view, suite or balcony (some ships call it “verandah”). The least expensive is the inside cabin, the most expensive is going to be either a suite or a balcony, depending on whether or not the ship you are sailing has suites. Also, before 1990, balconies weren’t considered a very important feature, and so most ships built during that time either didn’t have any at all or have only a few. Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, went back and added balconies to some of the cabins on their Sovereign – class ships. For all of the newer ships, i.e. those built after 1995, balconies are plentiful. In fact, on most of the exterior cabins located above the main public areas, almost all of the exterior cabins have balconies. |
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The biggest advantage to having a balcony, at least for those balconies that are attached to standard outside cabins, is that you have a nice, big doorway to the outside world. This is very nice. There is no denying how wonderful it can be to have the panoramic view of the Caribbean right outside your cabin, or how soothing it is to have the ocean sounds wafting into your cabin as you sleep. Not bad at all. |
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The difference in price between a standard inside cabin and an ocean view cabin ranges from $10 - $40 per night depending on the ship and the time of year. With a balcony, you can expect to pay another $20 - $30 per night. Suites are a whole different pricing structure altogether, but they cost at least twice as much as an outside cabin, sometimes considerably more depending on the amenities included. In almost all cases, outside cabins, whether or not they have balconies, are larger, sometimes by as much as 15%. |
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When considering what type of cabin you want, think about how many people will be sharing it and much time you’ll be using it. For a 3-day cruise, a balcony cabin (if it’s available) will just about double the cost of an inside cabin. Given the short amount of time you’ll spend in your cabin, there may be better things to spend your money on (like a massage or Dolphin adventure). The longer the cruise, the more important cabin size becomes, in our opinion. Obviously, you’ll be spending more time there. The newer the ship, the more plentiful the number of balcony cabins, and so the cost breakdown can actually be quite reasonable. |
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But most balconies aren’t really big enough to qualify as a lounging area. They’re pretty narrow, about big enough for two chairs and a small café table, rather than large enough for a lounge chair. Of course, if you took all the other furniture off the balcony, you probably could fit a single lounge chair on it, though there wouldn’t be room for much else. (If you want a larger balcony, you may be in luck if there are balcony cabins on the rear of the ship). |
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Depending on the design of the ships, balconies don’t always offer much outdoor privacy. It’s not unusual for two or four cabins to basically share a common balcony separated by waist-high handrails. On some ships, the balconies are designed in such a way that the balcony above you is recessed relative to your balcony. The effect of this is that the people standing on the balcony above you are basically looking right down into your balcony. |
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In the end, it may be that the greatest value of your balcony (at least with regards to standard cabins) is the nice big portal that it provides out into the wide open spaces and the fresh sea air that it allows into your cabin. If you have a larger cabin, such as a suite or a mini-suite, your balcony will be proportionally larger. |
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There is no question that having an outside cabin with a window, or better yet a balcony, can make the cruise experience more enjoyable. And let’s face it, having a suite or extra large cabin with extra space for lounging around or having a nice quiet dinner is totally great. And, if you can afford those extras, you should probably go for it and see how great it is for yourself. Then, the next time you cruise, you’ll know if it was worth it or not. |
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If you’re not sure about whether it’s worth it, and you want to be smart about how you spend your cruise budget, we have a suggestion. It may sound a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it’s not. “If you have to wonder, you should probably pass on it the first time around.” |
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As we said earlier, we don’t think having a standard inside cabin takes anything away from your cruise experience. When we cruise, we’re there for the party and if it’s a choice between spending extra money on a window or on a bar tab, we’re going with the bar tab, especially if it’s one of the 3- or 4-day cruises. True, the extra $10 - $20 per night may not be an excessive amount to pay for the benefit of having a nice big window greeting you when you wake up. And, like we said, if you’ve got the bucks and the desire, by all means, get the window seat. Our point is not that ocean view or balcony cabins aren’t better (they are, we’ve loved it every time we’ve had one), our point is that they’re not essential to you having a great cruise experience. |
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What is essential, regardless of the type of cabin you have, is that your cabin is comfortable, well-designed and appropriately decorated. Cruise lines have recognized that small touches go a long way toward overall passenger satisfaction. These days you are likely to find your cabin equipped with the little niceties that many hotels have long provided for their guests, such as safes, bath robes, hairdryers, and toiletries. |
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Articles we've written about
Cruising In The Caribbean |
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Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise - It’s a shame to lay out
$250 - $2,500 on a dreamy
cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and
inconveniences. So, in an effort
to minimize the likelihood of a
bump in the road to your perfect
vacation, here are some common
potholes that can tarnish your
experience.
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Eleven Expert Cruising Tips - Some useful,relevant tips and
ideas, and other neat stuff you
can use to make their cruising
experience better.
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Hooked On Cruising (And I Like It!) - It's official! I have a
condition, a disorder by some
people's assessment. It's called
"Caribbean Obsession Disorder",
and there really is such a thing.
Imagine that!
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